7 summits by Microlight

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25 Oct 2006 FAI Gold Air medal
1 Dec 2005, Aconcagua expedition
4 Feb 2005, RAeC Awards
16 Dec, RAeC Britannia Trophy
1 Jan 2005, 3rd place Best of ExplorersWeb 2004 Awards
1 June, Home
22 May, Fog again
23 May, Hollywood
24 May, Full story
24 May, Summited!
21 May, Nearly
20 May, Rain
19 May, Flora
18 May, Smelly socks
16 May, Line break
17 May
15 May, A narrow escape
14 May, Fog
13 May, Camp life
12 May, Runway repairs
11 May, Yaks, Naks & Jopkyoks
10 May, Syangboche
9 May, fog
8 May, Everest in sight!
19 Apr, Pokhara
23 Apr, Oxygen
26 Apr, Lukla
5 May, Still Lukla
6 May, We have fuel!
Apr 25, Kathmandu
30 Mar, Kit despatched
6 Mar 25,280 ft
3 Mar Hypobaric test
5 Mar Guidonia
31 Jan
 
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(UTC + 5:45)
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News release: 4 Feb 2005, RAeC awards Ceremony






 
At a reception in London in the National Army Museum Richard Meredith-Hardy was presented last night with the Britannia Trophy by the Royal Aero Club's president, HRH The Duke of York KCVO ADC.
 
The Britannia Trophy is the Royal Aero Club's most prestigous award For the British Aviator or Aviators accomplishing the most meritorious performance in Aviation during the previous year.
 
The citation reads: In May 2004 Richard Meredith-Hardy flew over Mount Everest in a weight-shift microlight. The aircraft was a British-made Pegasus Quantum with a Turbocharged Rotax 914 engine. It had a standard simple open-frame structure and a top speed of only 65 mph. The only extra feature was an oxygen system for the pilot. For the initial part of the ascent he was towing a hang-glider, but a cable-break prevented it accompanying him on the critical phase over the summit. The flight reached an altitude of almost 30,000 feet. He showed considerable skill in coping with the extreme weather and courage in flying over the inhospitable terrain.
 
This is a great honour as I join a very select list of aviators who have won this trophy twice since it was inaugurated in 1913; I was a member of the British Microlight team which won it in 1990 following our victory at the World Championships. To add to the specacle I was asked to park my microlight outside the museum. Unfortunately even with such VIP patronage it wasn't possible to fly it there as there was nowhere to land so I dragged it there on a trailer.
 
There were a number of people present who received other awards for extraordinary flights, notably Simon Oliphant-Hope who won the Breuget Trophy for establishing a new record of 17 days for round-the-World flight in a Helicopter and David Hempleman-Adams who received a FAI Ballooning Diploma for his flight across the Atlantic in a balloon with an open wicker basket in 2003. In his speech the Duke collectively referred to us all as 'completely mad' but hoped we would not stop doing such things in the future.
 
Unfortunately the Britannia Trophy lives in a vault somewhere so I only got to hold it for the briefest of moments though the RAeC have given me a certificate instead.
ICARO 2000 Hang Gliding World Champion
 
 
THE NORTH FACE clothing for extreme conditions
 
 
ALPHA emergency parachute
 
 
The FIAT group
 
 
PEGASUS AVIATION manufacturers of fine microlight Aircraft
 
 
Industrial Pressure Testing Ltd; Suppliers of Oxygen cylinders to the expedition.
 
 
Mainair Sports; UK dealer for Warp Drive Propellors
 
 
Neltec flexible heaters
 
 
AdventureWeather.com providing Meteorological information to the expedition
 
 
Lyndhurst Touchdown Services.  Supplier of fuel system components to the expedition.
 
 
PARAMINA; Suppliers of Oxygen equipment to the expedition
 
 
O-ZEE flight suits.  Suppliers of Bar-mitts to the expedition.
 
 
BAILEY AVIATION manufacturers of Paramotors and automotive sport acessories
 
 
Articole Studios - GRP mouldings
 
 
MAINAIR SPORTS  manufacturers of fine microlight Aircraft
 
 
SKYDRIVE, the UK Distributor of ROTAX engines
 
 
FLYCOM Intercom and Radio equipment
 
 
Gerbings heated clothing
 
 
Quatar airways
 
 
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14 Feb 2005
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